SAN JOAQUIN: Amnesty International again lashed out at the reprehensible activities of the Indian govt when USA director Mr. Jack Rendler spoke at the Shaheedi Samagam held Sun. at the San Joaquin Gurdwara. Amnesty joined Asia Watch the PHRO the IHRO and even the US Congress in recognizing the corrupt and brutal govt of India that for years has tolerated condoned and participated in perpetrating myriad abuses on its citizens. Amnesty Int. which has selected 1992 as the year for its “Eye on India report has not been allowed entry since their scathing report on the conditions in the Bihar jail in 1974 prompting A.I. officials to ask “What more is India hiding? This is just one question the Sangat contemplated at the International Human Rights Convention at the Sikh Student Federation sponsored event honoring the Shaheeds of Khalistan.
The Sikh Student Federation under the direction of Panthic Committee member Bhai Daljit Singh Khalsa endeavors to enlighten western university students and others of the plight of those youths directly involved in the war for Khalistan independence. Local SSF leaders included Parminder Singh who welcomed the speakers and Parminder Sanghera who introduced them. Distinguished speakers including Mr. Jack Rendler Director Amnesty International USA Dr. Amarjit Singh Khalistan Affairs Center Dr. Gurinder Singh Grewal editor WSN and S. Gurcharan Singh Dhillon -WSO USA focused on human rights abuses martyrs sacrifices and the role and duty of each individual.
Amnesty denied entry Mr. Rendler who answered reporters’ questions as well as delivering a prepared statement said that Amnesty International had been involved in following Indias abuse record since 1963. Since then Amnesty International has produced 12 reports on India including three on the Punjab In 1974 a report on “Prison Conditions in Bihar” so outraged the Central Govt that Amnesty International has been denied entry since
Each year Amnesty International chooses a particular grievance to focus on. 1992 is the Eye on India highlighting the abuses committed in every one of Indias 25 States. The heightened activities of the security forces are responsible for thousands of reports of Tapes tortures and “disappearances” that the London watchdog office gets. The London team made up of journalists medical and legal professionals and others inside and outside India chronicle the endemic abuse of individuals
Worldwide attention is the goal of Amnesty International’s efforts. India which claims to be the world’s largest democracy is viewed by Amnesty International as the world’s largest Human Rights violator. Aiming to make the govt. realize that it can’t govern by abusing people while working on individual cases is the current challenge made greater because of Indias refusal to allow an Amnesty International fact finding team into the country.
So much we know about what is going on what else is India trying to hide?” the director commented. He noted that “there are 15000 cases in Kashmir alone of individuals held without charges. Reports of disappearances have greatly increased in Punjab and Kashmir.” Tales of army and para military units invading towns and villages with supposed “militant” sentiments abound. In many such cases the young men of the community are removed with no explanation to the family and no record of their arrest. Often they become victims of “encounters” falsely accused of a crime or resisting arrest they are murdered in policy custody
The failures of the judiciary including denying bail and holding trials in secret is part and parcel of the Indian system Using false confessions and torture to elicit information is “pervasive and daily routine regardless of the party in power” Petty crimes land and wage disputes or opposition loyalties can lead to the extra judicial execution of an individual and sometimes his family after they have been tortured. “The security forces feel no restraint India stands out by the breadth and depth of its use of torture” Director Rendler said. Answering an earlier question regarding support of the Burton “Justice in India” act Mr. Rendler said that Amnesty International had taken no position on aid but had advised congress and staff members of India’s record of Human Rights abuses.
Amnesty is not political Amnesty International puts the media spotlight on countries to provoke worldwide attention Amnesty’s commitment is to stop Human Rights abuses regardless of the politics of the govt in power or of the ethnicity language religion belief or sex of the individuals. In 150 member countries Amnesty receives over 300,000 reports yearly In the last 15 years a great deal of progress has been made especially in Nicaragua Chile Argentina South Africa East Europe and the Soviet Union
Amnesty officials felt that the focus should shift to Africa and Asia. In 1992 China is reportedly holding hundreds of thousands in custody with no defense. In Peru the ruling govt and the insurgent “Shining Path” alternately terrorize torture and kill peasant civilians. In Guatemala the leader of the political apposition was killed and the orphan children of Guatemala city are being “exterminated” by the police. In Burma the head of the govt has been imprisoned without trial.
Pressure to reform may come from within or from outside a country. Amnesty International asks individuals to join in the focus on the world situation. Indians especially Sikhs could help in the defense of cases in Kenya Peru Burma and Israel. Do your Part
Mr. Gurcharan Dhillon praising the efforts of Amnesty Asia Watch PHRO IHRO and other human rights organizations joined in the appeal to support Amnesty International s efforts worldwide Sikhs have a religious obligation to“ look out for all others” not just suffering Sikhs. Participation includes voting which he urged. “Become known to your representative let him know you helped to elect him so he can help you.”
He also mentioned the Indian High Court’s decision on Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha two great sons of the Punjab. Dr. Amarjit Singh Khalistan Affairs Center echoed Mr. Dhillon sentiments and asked the Sangat to pray for the bold sacrifice they were making.
Look at the militants in Punjab. They make a willing sacrifice but what are we doing? Recognize both your rights and your duties and ask yourself what you should be doing. Sikhs throughout India are targets of the govt recently many militant organizations have seen great losses in the upper ranks. But we can’t be depressed we are still a power to be reckoned with” said Dr Singh. He stressed to the group that “The Brahmin rulers of India V.P.Singh Rao Chandra Gandhi etc will be forgotten but great martyrs like Sukha and Jinda will be listed on the “golden pages of history.” Support for Bhai Ranjit Singh Gill and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sandhu who languish behind bars in New York is important for this same reason Misinformation Campaign
The Indian govt’s anti-Sikh sentiments and their insidious attempts at propaganda disinformation and treachery are well known” commented Dr. G.S. Grewal. Added Dr. Singh “The recently reported story of Sikhs being humiliated in Saudi Arabia may be just such a case and the story of a Sikh girl kidnapped in Kabul is thought to be the work of the Indian Goyt rather the Afghan rebels as was first reported.” It suits the Brahmin Indian govt. to keep Sikhs and other freedom fighting guerrillas antagonistic The “divide and conquer” philosophy is well established and speaks to the need for unification rather than separation.
S.Y.A representative Bhai Bhajan Singh Bhinder said in agreement “India is bent upon destroying the Sikhs. Attacks are political religious and economic.” The govt is planting seeds of discord sending Sikhs to work against their own Dr.Grewal and Dr.Amarjit added “The govt is trying to drain our resources by sending cultural elites who raise funds for educational institutions and new gurdwaras meanwhile the militants and families are poorly funded. But as Davinder Singh of Babbar Khalsa Int. said “though we must beware of anti-Sikh propaganda independence will be gained look at our history of sacrifice”
All joined in thanking the SSF for its efforts to bring Sikh culture and religion to the youth of today. The panthic committee and militant organizations encourage and support the youth who are the future of the nation” said Tara Singh Bal appealing for the Sangats support. “Khalistan Zindabad” replied the crowd.
Two young Sikh boys Barjinder Singh and Gurinder Singh moved the Sangat with their raising of the slogans of Khalistan and Sant Khalsa Bhindrawale.
Mr. Rendler was honored to be the guest of the SSF and the San Joaquin Gurdwara was pleased to be the site of such an event Many kudos to Sardar Nimal Singh Rakkah secretary of the Gurdwara for his assistance The Gurdwara committee generously donated $500 to these Sikh organizations: W.S.0. B.K.I. and the Panthic Committee . The Dildars folk singers ballads were most emotive and the group generously donated the collection on their behalf to S.S.F. Langar was served and the Sangat left the convention enlightened and energized.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 31, 1992
